Lord of the Rings: Warriors

"I wonder which sixth-tier knight this could be! I'm so excited!" Rynar's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Given the system's tendencies, it would most likely assign Rynar a sixth-tier hero from history. 

However, the realm of heroes was a mixed bag—some were overhyped disappointments, while others could triumphantly take on five opponents at once. 

The gap between their potential and actual abilities could be shockingly wide.

Several dozen miles south of Riverguard, a knight in his early thirties appeared. 

He wore what seemed to be an ordinary set of heavy black-and-white striped armor and rode a rather unremarkable black horse. 

However, upon closer inspection, one would find his armor was crafted from intricately woven dragon scales—the black scales from the Black Dragon Clan and the white scales from the White Dragon Clan! And the horse? 

Far from ordinary. Its immense stamina and incredible weight-bearing capacity were evident from the five-meter-long mithril-tipped armor-piercing lance resting horizontally across its saddle, along with the broad tower shield hanging by its side. 

This was no mere steed—it was an Abyssal Warhorse, a high-tier magical beast.

As the wind swept through, the cape embroidered with the Zaltarion Empire's dragon insignia fluttered majestically behind him, framing his imposing figure.

"Caslow! Go invite Radir over and get some workers to start renovating this castle!" Rynar whispered hurriedly to Caslow, glancing nervously at the magnificent figure nearby. 

His face was a mix of embarrassment and urgency.

When Rynar had lived here alone, he never minded the place.

But now, with a stunningly beautiful duchess moving in, the state of the castle suddenly seemed woefully inadequate. 

What? You think Nyx should find somewhere else to stay? 

Take her status and rank into account. Even though she was only a duchess in name, hosting her required the utmost decorum. 

The small, dilapidated two-story castle, piled high with supplies, was currently the best accommodation Riverguard could offer.

Nyx's surprised expression and the slight twitch of her lips made Rynar feel his mistake keenly. 

For the first time, he realized how shortsighted he'd been not to repair or expand the castle earlier. And now? He was losing face in front of a duchess!

"By the Dragon God above, is this really where you usually live, Lord Rynar?" Nyx's gaze fixed on the large tent in the castle's courtyard, disbelief evident in her eyes.

Slap! Rynar covered his face in shame. This was too humiliating.

"It's fine! I've traveled with armies for ages, enduring the harshest conditions. Staying in a tent doesn't bother me," Nyx said with a gracious smile, her emotional intelligence shining through. 

She quickly picked up on Rynar's embarrassment and spoke to diffuse the tension. 

In truth, Nyx admired practical nobles like Rynar—leaders who understood what their territories needed most. 

Unlike other lords who wasted resources showcasing wealth, Rynar funneled most of his resources into development. Such forward-thinking rulers rarely ended up in mediocrity.

"My apologies! You'll have to bear with this for a while," Rynar replied, seizing the chance to salvage his pride. 

"I've already ordered the renovations. Things have been hectic recently, so I neglected the castle. Your arrival reminded me—it's time for some upgrades! Hahaha!"

"My King! Lord Vanervi urgently requests an audience with you! He seems quite anxious," a guard interrupted.

"Let him in," Rynar said, curious about what had brought the near-Elven King rushing to him so urgently.

Vanervi, along with his people, had been temporarily staying in Riverguard, awaiting an opportunity to gather the scattered plains elves and find a land where they could build their kingdom.

"King Rynar! There's a sixth-tier warrior approaching Riverguard!" Vanervi's face was grim.

"Hmm?" Rynar was momentarily stunned. This guy really had sharp instincts! Sixth-tier tracker skills like Hunter's Sense were no joke. 

They could detect the presence of sixth-tier combatants from miles away. It was likely that the new arrival hadn't bothered to conceal their aura. 

A sixth-tier professional's aura was immense—like a beacon. 

Among those skilled in sensing and scouting, Dragon Knights were exceptional; their overwhelming dragon aura was impossible to hide even when they tried. Dragon Knights always lit up the battlefield like moving searchlights.

That aside, professionals who reached the sixth tier were nearly impossible to ambush. Even sixth-tier assassins couldn't easily kill a sixth-tier mage. 

With their diverse detection skills and heightened senses, they could pinpoint threats hundreds of meters away.

"I wonder who it is—I'm really looking forward to meeting them!" Rynar mused aloud as he climbed the city walls with Vanervi, gazing out into the distance. 

When he glanced at Vanervi's grim expression, which looked like he had just swallowed a fly, Rynar almost burst out laughing.

Vanervi's palms were already sweating. This was his first time facing an opponent of equal tier. He could only hope the enemy was a lightly armored class. 

If they turned out to be a heavy-armored warrior… his lack of armor-piercing abilities would spell disaster. 

For most elves, retreat would have been the natural choice. But could the wandering plains elves simply abandon someone who had shown them kindness? 

No, no, no! Their resolve to fight was unwavering—never underestimate the offensive spirit of plains elves!

"Whoo~ Whoo~ Whoo~ Whooo!" The city's war horn echoed loudly. The gates were quickly shut as soldiers manned the walls. 

The horn, a magical artifact, not only signaled impending disaster but also boosted the defenders' morale by 50%.

Swish! Dylan darted back from the plantation in an instant.

"What's going on? Why sound the war horn?" Dylan's face, previously calm, now looked like the bottom of a pot. He'd been conducting alchemical experiments when the horn suddenly blared.

"A sixth-tier professional is heading toward Riverguard!" Vanervi blurted out before Rynar could answer.

"By the Dragon God!" Dylan squinted, his alchemist's mind racing. 

Though alchemists weren't known for their combat prowess, Dylan was willing to fight for his young and vibrant king—even if it meant dying on the battlefield.

"Uh…" Rynar hesitated. He wanted to explain that there was no need for such an alarm, as the approaching knight was actually an ally. 

But seeing how the entire city had gone into full defense mode, he decided to let the misunderstanding stand. Consider it an impromptu drill for the city's defensive plans.

Outside the city, civilians fled north under the soldiers' guidance, heading toward the nearby settlements of Erebor, Loshanier, and Dale Confederation to seek aid.

"Damn it! A dual-light-and-shadow hero in heavy armor!" Vanervi muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes narrowing with dread.

"A hero? Light and shadow dual-class? This is bad!" Dylan's expression turned grim. A dual-class hero of that level could potentially take on an entire city—or even a kingdom—alone.

"King Rynar! Lead your people and mine through the northern gate!" Vanervi urged. "Caslow, Dylan, and I will stay behind to buy you time."

In Vanervi's perception, the knight's presence was like an abyss—deep and unfathomable. 

At the same time, it radiated blinding brilliance. Light for offense, shadow for defense—this combination was a miniature version of the legendary Holy-Evil Hero, one of the pinnacles of knightly evolution.

"Omsk!" Rynar exclaimed, finally recognizing the knight's equipment. That distinctive black-and-white dragon-scale armor left no doubt.

The Grandmaster of the Teutonic Knights of the Zaltarion Empire—a knightly order numbering a thousand elite riders. 

Omsk was the captain, hailed as the Empire's Spear and Shield. A hero renowned not for overwhelming damage but for unmatched range and versatility.

His attacks could cover vast areas, second only to Dragon Knights. He was a true jack-of-all-trades knight.

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